Hackable

Christmas Tree Cheeseboard: Edible Fun

A Christmas tree cheeseboard is a wonderful way to serve up cheese and grapes as an appetizer.

We love edible Christmas trees, especially when they are this fun and delicious! To make a Christmas tree cheeseboard, use sprigs of rosemary and thyme for the branches, then layer cubes of cheese, grapes, even dried cranberries! For the trunk, use celery or a pretzel stick (check out these Christmas tree snacks with pretzel trunks). Easy, fun, inexpensive, and perfect for keeping kids busy while you cook.

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This DIY stain treatment is easy to make and gentle on your baby’s clothes. You don’t want to use harsh chemicals on your child’s clothing and, let’s face it, babies are expert at making their own stains (spit-up being their specialty). Mix up your own pre-wash treatment with equal parts […]

Jar salad is so easy and healthy, and a week of salad in a jar is the best way to ensure a week of healthy lunches. Think about the things you love in a salad: greens, carrots, corn, maybe some pine nuts or pecans, chopped egg… even anchovies! Before you begin […]

Untangle doll hair without pulling your own hair out. Barbie, Skipper and even baby dolls come with long hair that looks shiny and pretty at first, but can turn into a complete mess after a night in the toy box. Mix fabric softener and water in equal parts, and put […]

Marshmallows for a sore throat may seem like an old wives’ tale, but they work! Are you suffering from a sore throat? If you’ve been cheering for your favorite team, or flying, or out in the cold… it’s easy to end up with a sore throat. While the most sensible […]

Bobby pins come in packs of 30 or more, and yet they have a way of disappearing. When you don’t need one, you might find a bobby pin on your nightstand, in your handbag, or stuck in the grooves of your hardwood floor. They seem to find their way to the […]

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Remove cherry pits before you serve a bowl of cherries and you won’t have to worry about your kids chocking on the pits–or spitting them out at their siblings. First, wash the cherries. Use a narrow-necked bottle, like a wine bottle or an old-fashioned soda bottle. If the cherry has […]

Keep ice cream soft and ready for the whole family to enjoy with one simple trick: a freezer bag. No one likes to wait for ice cream to soften–especially kids! When you bring your favorite frozen confection home from the store, put it in a Ziploc bag before you put it […]

Keep basil fresh for up to a week with a simple cup of water. This method is similar to keeping a bouquet of cut flowers fresh. First, trim the stems of the basil with a sharp knife. Then, place the bunch into a glass of water. Cover with a plastic […]

Portion snacks before you indulge yourself so you’ll never have to say, “I can’t believe I ate that whole bag of cookies!” It’s easy to keep reaching into a bag of chips or a package of chocolate chip cookies until there’s nothing left. And then you feel bad. Enjoy your snacks […]

Cook pasta with less water and less mess. Most packaged pasta advises you to boil something like six quarts of water before adding the dry pasta. Then, once the pasta is cooked, you end up pouring all that water down the drain (and sometimes getting burned by the steam while […]

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A birthday gift hack for everyone you know: all you need is the right question. Picture this. Your friends, partners, brothers, mothers, etc birthday is in just a few days. You have their birthday card sorted because you found The Home of Funny and Rude Cards but the it hits […]

Strawberry Santas are super easy to make and require only three ingredients: strawberries, whipped cream and tiny round candies like these. Start with a bunch of strawberries. Rinse and remove the stems. Slice the top one-third of a strawberry, add whipped cream, then put the top of the strawberry on top of […]

You’re hungry, in a bit of a hurry (no time to go out for breakfast), and you decide to make an omelette. The thing is, your housemate has taken all the eggs out of their carton and stuck them in the refrigerator’s egg holder. Great–the eggs are organized but you […]

Cranberry ice adds a festive flair to your drinks, appetizer platters and ice buckets at the holidays. It’s so simple to make, too. You can buy a bag of fresh or frozen cranberries at the grocery store. There’s no need to cook them, but be sure to rinse them! Add […]

A pants hanger is what you really need in the kitchen. Sure, you’ve ot fancy tools but are any of them holding up your cookbooks? It’s 7 p.m. Your friends and family will start arriving in 30 minutes. You’ve got your hands full cooking dinner and the darned cookbook keeps […]

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Jar salad is so easy and healthy, and a week of salad in a jar is the best way to ensure a week of healthy lunches. Think about the things you love in a salad: greens, carrots, corn, maybe some pine nuts or pecans, chopped egg… even anchovies! Before you begin […]

Marshmallows for a sore throat may seem like an old wives’ tale, but they work! Are you suffering from a sore throat? If you’ve been cheering for your favorite team, or flying, or out in the cold… it’s easy to end up with a sore throat. While the most sensible […]

Penny pie weights are an old-school hack for an all-time favorite: pie. If you’ve ever tried to make a pie crust from scratch, it may have turned out a bit differently than you’d planned. Without using pie weights when you bake the crust, it can turn into something that looks […]

Candy canes are delightful at the holidays–you can hang them on the Christmas tree, use them to decorate garland, make place cards, and of course, eat them! For the kiddies enjoying hot cocoa, and for the grownups sipping on some eggnog, try using them as candy-coated stir sticks. Just melt chocolate (in […]

Gingerbread cookies are festive and fun, and you can easily turn them into holiday decorations! Here’s an easy and inexpensive way to add some “country cottage” holiday charm to your home. When you’re making these tasty cookies (here’s the easiest way to do that), use a straw to make two holes […]